The top-level action continues at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, May 24, when the Grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) will be run over 2,400 meters on the turf track.
It’s a race for 3-year-old fillies, and the top runners from the Grade 1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) will be trying to see out the extra 800 meters of the second leg of the Fillies’ Triple Crown. In addition, some of the other entrants will be coming off runs in other races over longer distances.
First held in 1938, the race was originally run at Hanshin Racecourse, before the switch to Tokyo in 1946. Foreign-bred horses have been allowed to compete since 2003, and it became an international G1 event in 2010.
There are 22 nominations for a maximum field size of 18 runners, and all the fillies carry a set weight of 55 kg.
First favorites have done well in the past 10 years, with six of them winning ― the latest being Liberty Island in 2023. Almond Eye was another big-name winner of the Japanese Oaks in 2018.
The last 10 years have also seen the spoils shared at five apiece for runners trained at Shiga Prefecture’s Ritto Training Center in the west of Japan, and Ibaraki Prefecture’s Miho Training Center in the east.
Info on the Yushun Himba
Record time for the Yushun Himba is held by Loves Only You, who won in a time of 2 minutes, 22.8 seconds in 2019.
Sunday’s winner’s check is ¥150 million JPY (roughly $943,000 USD).
A couple of lead-up races were the G3 Flower Cup, run at Nakayama in March over 1,800 meters, and the G2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes ― an official Oaks trial ― held at Tokyo in April over 2,000 meters.
The 87th running of the Yushun Himba will be race 11 on the Sunday card at Tokyo, with a post time of 3:40 PM.
Here’s a look at some of the runners taking on the second Fillies’ Classic:
Star Anise works out at the JRA Ritto Training Center on May 20 in Ritto, Shiga Prefecture. (©SANKEI)
Star Anise in Pursuit of 3rd G1 Victory
Big things will be expected from Drefong offspring Star Anise, as she now bids for her third G1 win, after winning the 2025 Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and April’s G1 Oka Sho.
“She managed to win the first Fillies’ Classic without any problems,” trainer Tomokazu Takano said.
Takano added, “She’ll be coming back after some time off this time, but they’ve taken good care of her at the farm and she’s returned to the stable in good shape. In a recent piece of work [running uphill], she completed it in the 58 seconds range, which I thought was very good.”
Alankar prepares for the Yushun Himba during a workout at the JRA Ritto Training Center on May 19. (©SANKEI)
Alankar to Make Tokyo Debut
It will be Alankar’s first run at Tokyo, but she has won at a distance of 1,800 meters. And in her latest run, she made up good ground at the finish to take fifth in the Oka Sho.
Trainer Takashi Saito feels she was a bit unlucky last time.
“She was a bit put off by the late loading of the filly in the outside gate,” the trainer said. “Consequently, she found herself a long way back after the start, and it became a tough race for her.”
Saito added, “We sent her to the farm after the race, but she looks to be in very good condition on her return to the stable.”
Jockey Yutaka Take once again takes the ride on Alankar, and he’s looking for his fourth win in the Oaks.
Dream Core, with Christophe Lemaire handling the reins, wins the Daily Hai Queen Cup on February 14 at Tokyo Racecourse. (©SANKEI)
Dream Core, Lemaire Team Up for Yushun Himba
All three wins for Kizuna progeny Dream Core have come at Tokyo, and the extra distance this time could be what she needs, after finishing ninth in the Oka Sho.
“She traveled over to Ritto last time before the Oka Sho, and things went well with her training there,” trainer Kiyoshi Hagiwara said.
“There will have been a bit of time between races, and I feel that she’s better racing left-handed. A little more distance looks to be fine for her too, and she’s been working well since returning from the farm.”
Four-time Yushun Himba winner Christophe Lemaire will ride Dream Core.
Read the rest of this article about the Yushun Himba and the Japanese horses in contention on JRA News.
RELATED:
Author: JRA News
Continue Reading
AloJapan.com